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Defense leading the way again for No. 16 Stanford

By WTOP Staff

ANTONIO GONZALEZ
AP Sports Writer

STANFORD, Calif. (AP) — Stanford started this season with all kinds of questions about how it would replace a respected coordinator and a star-laden lineup on defense.

Nobody is wondering anymore.

The 16th-ranked Cardinal (2-1) have two shutouts already entering Saturday’s game at Washington (4-0). Stanford leads the country in scoring defense (4.3 points), total defense (204.3 yards) and passing defense (66 yards) per game, and it’s doing it the same way it has in recent seasons: with a physical and disciplined approach.

“We had high expectations for this year, and we have a high standard. Guys take a lot of pride in making sure those things don’t change,” said new defensive coordinator Lance Anderson, who was promoted from outside linebackers coach after Derek Mason left for Vanderbilt in January.

It might have been understandable if Stanford’s defense had struggled early this season.

Besides Mason, the Cardinal also lost linebackers Shayne Skov and Trent Murphy, free safety Ed Reynolds and defensive end Ben Gardner — all leaders of a class that won back-to-back Pac-12 championships and reached four consecutive BCS bowls.

Left behind were talented players, albeit many of them unproven, and a long-time position coach who had never been a defensive coordinator.

Anderson began by meticulously watching every Stanford game from last season and looking for ways the unit could improve. He noticed that the defense had a lot of audibles at the line of scrimmage, which often led to mistakes and complicated assignments.

With so many new starters, Anderson decided to eliminate some of those last-second changes from the playbook. He said the moves have simplified information for players to process and streamlined communication between those on the sideline and the field, allowing everybody to focus and execute better.

“It’s still a complex system and still gives us multiple looks. The idea was to just make it easier for everybody,” Anderson said.

Just as Anderson is thriving in a position where Mason and Vic Fangio excelled before him, players have proven to be quick studies in leadership roles.

Inside linebackers A.J. Tarpley and Blake Martinez, defensive end Henry Anderson and strong safety Jordan Richards have been key cogs in the transition. Three-year starting cornerbacks Wayne Lyons and Alex Carter also have led the way, turning positions that used to be weaknesses into strengths.

“It’s fun to prove people wrong,” Tarpley said. “The guys in the locker room, we know we have all the guys we need to be successful. Whether or not people on the outside want to challenge us or question us, every year I’ve been here we seem to have gotten better on defense no matter who we lost.”

Stanford coach David Shaw credits the defense’s smooth transitions to how many players the staff rotates.

The philosophy started under Shaw’s predecessor, Jim Harbaugh, who placed an importance on depth and competition throughout the roster, and it has helped players gain experience before becoming starters.

The proof has played out on the field, especially this season, where just about everybody on the defense’s two-deep roster has had a hand in the strong start.

The Cardinal crushed lower-tier UC Davis and its traditional-style offense 45-0. They lost 13-10 to a fast-paced Southern California team in a game the defense dominated and where the offense struggled to score. And they overwhelmed Army’s triple-option run game in a 35-0 win before a bye last weekend.

“The best thing about this defense, to me, is that it’s hard to say who the best player on the defense is,” Shaw said.

If there’s one area the defense wants to improve, it’s creating more turnovers.

Stanford has five takeaways — three interceptions and two fumble recoveries — through the first three games, which is tied for 62nd in the nation. But the defense had none in the loss to USC.

Considering the Cardinal have forced at least one turnover in 40 of their last 42 games, they believe it’s just a small sample size this season and they’re pleased with the progress they’ve made.

“I feel we’re in a great spot right now,” Martinez said. “We’re jelling pretty well.”

___

NOTES: Shaw said Tuesday that senior RB Remound Wright will play against Washington after sitting out against Army with an undisclosed injury. … Backup LB Joe Hemschoot (undisclosed injury) is questionable.

___

Antonio Gonzalez can be reached at: www.twitter.com/agonzalezAP

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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